Randy said he realized many of his dreams because he had terrific parents. What details from his childhood do you think led to the successes he had later in life? Are there lessons in Randy's story for people who have had less-fulfilling childhoods, or absentee parents? What advice might you give to those who didn't win "the parent lottery"?
99 Comments
4/30/2012 01:33:41 am
Randy's parents were terrific, as he had said they were. His mom was caring and giving as well as her father. They both encouraged their children to follow their dreams and to live successful, happy lives. When Randy was in high school, his parents let him paint his room, and he painted it with all of his likes and dreams. Randy ended up following his dreams and completing them. Being in zero gravity, a disney imagineer, and being an author to an article of world book, and meeting and being captain Kirk of Star Trek. he fulfilled every one of those, the only one he did not fulfill was being in the NFL, and he's ok with that. All in all Randy is saying to fulfill your dreams ad live them out. If I was a kid and didn't have parents who encouraged me to make and follow my dreams, then I believe Randy would tell me, make them anyway, and you will be happy that you did. So.... Make, work at, and live out your dreams.
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Surabi Rao
4/30/2012 01:34:01 am
His mother was strict, and pushed him to do his best. This caused him to do his best in his later life, too. His father was modest and hard-working. Observing these traits, Randy wanted to be like his father so he learned how to be modest and hard-working, too. This helped him in his job, and the determination of his parents caused him to have determination to fulfill his dreams. His parents also let him paint the walls with whatever he wanted, which helped his creativity "flow" (this let him learn to be creative by doing something outside the box, like painting the walls of his own room with his own thoughts). A lesson Randy had for people for bad childhoods was to not let that get you down- you have to keep trying to achieve your dreams. The advice I'd give to people who didn't have the best parents would be: Keep your head up, and do really good in school. That way, you can use your good grades in school to go to a good university and get opportunities to achieve your dreams. For example, if you want to work as a cellular biologist in a lab, and you get awesome grades and graduate 1st from Harvard, then you will have the intelligence and grades to work in a lab.
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Caden Fernando
5/9/2012 12:46:20 pm
I like your example from the literature and in real life. It is good to follow your dreams no matter the circumstances (as long as they're legal). If you try hard in school and have determination and passion, one is sure to achieve their child-hood dreams.
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Kate Kaiser
4/30/2012 10:26:40 am
As stated in the question, Randy had wonderful parents that helped him realize many of his dreams. One detail that led to his successes later in life was the fact that he had a tough mother with high expectations. Randy even said that this was his good fortune. Another thing was that his dad was his hero. When you have such a great role model to look up to (his dad served in the military, founded a non-profit organization, and ran a business that helped poor people), that automatically is going to give you something to strive for, which leads to achievements. The life-lesson from his parents to look up the answers to his questions definitely played a major part in Randy’s success. He learned from his mother how to control his cockiness, and he inherited much wisdom from his father that he could later quote. These things are all details that led to his accomplishments later in life.
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Chandru Sundarrajan
5/9/2012 08:02:08 am
I agree with your statement that if you didn't win the parent lottery, it is still completely possible to be successful, by finding another hero to look up to. Since parents are the ones who raise you, people naturally tend to follow and look up to them. Having good parents makes the situation better because looking up to them will give you a better idea on how to lead your life. My mother has very high expectations, and I respect that because it helps me and will continue to help me.
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Hayden Kettler
5/9/2012 11:26:51 am
I agree with you Chandru and Kate. Even if you aren't blessed with parents that push you to be your best doesnt mean you cant be a succesful person. There are other people to look up to besides your parents. For example; friends, teachers, principals, other family, etc.
Jamie Stivers
4/30/2012 10:03:05 pm
Pausch had two wonderful parents. His mother would not take much slack, and his dad was very thoughtful. They raised Randy with the aspects of discipline and putting others before yourself. A few details from his childhood that led him to successes later in life were, being able to paint his room so he was able to get his thoughts out and let his mind go where ever it wanted to in his room. His dad was also his go to guy. He looked up to him and wanted to be like him. In Randy's story, there are still many lessons for people who had less-fulfilling childhoods. He states that, "You can not change the cards you are delt, but you can play the hand". Which applys to children/adults to people with rough childhoods. The advice I would give to people with rough childhoods would be, you can't change your past, but you can change your future. So, take inspiration from this book and make a change in your family.
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Daxton Davidson
5/1/2012 08:06:01 am
The main reason that led to his success was his parents. His parents had very high expectations and pushed him hard which gave him a good work ethic and a good personality. His dad was very kind and helpful to others which passed on to Randy. Yes, just because you didn't have the greatest parent. Even if you didn't fulfill your dreams as a kid Randy's lesson is saying to fulfill them now. Randy says he did win the parent lottery and his parents helped him realize his dreams, but that does not mean that if you did not have the best parents does not mean you can't realize your dreams it just means that you have to do it on your own by the help of friends. My advice to those who did not win the parent lottery is that do not give up because other people are there to help you such as a friend or role model, but you can and should follow your dreams because that is what really matters.
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Miika Jarvela
5/9/2012 01:06:04 pm
I agree with what you said on how to cope with maybe not winning the parent lottery. There is always somebody who you can trust in your life. If there's not, it should be easy to find somebody: other adults, counselors, teachers, etc. will be with you when you need them. You can fulfill your dreams as long as you try to fulfill them.
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Grace Lu
5/12/2012 10:24:37 am
Yea, i agree with you guys too. There are plenty of successful people who were able to overcome the disadvantage they had of not winning the parent lottery. Kids who didn't win the parent lottery should keep in mind that there are others who will support you too!
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Sierra Latshaw
5/1/2012 09:23:16 am
I think that Randy's parents helped lead him to success in life by teaching him how to be proper, and polite while also letting him experiment thing and letting him learn from his mistakes. Like his father said brick walls are put in your life for you to find a way around them or to show that you really don't care and to move on. There are many lessons in Randy's story for those with less fufilling childhoods and absentee parents. Randy shows that your childhood does not define you and that even if you had a horrible childhood that if you left it in the past you could start to become happier. He also shows that you have to deal with the cards you are dealt to you. Even when he was dealt a card of terminal cancer he choose to not live upset that he was going to die but to live to the fullest because he was going to die. So, if you want to you can do what Randy did and turn your life from negative to positive even in bad situations. Some advice I would give to those who didn't win the parent lottery would be that you need to love your parents, and respect them but you will get through the tough times with them. You can leave your parents the moment you turn 18 and leave behind your whole childhood if you want, but you only get one set of parents and even if they aren't the best they still love you and will be there to support you even if it doesn't seem like it.
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Mukund Kuntimad
5/5/2012 10:57:28 pm
As children, we do not have a choice regarding our birth parents. Yes, I agree that we have to respect our parents and elders, but this this tolerance and respect depends upon circumstances. If there is an abusive relationship involved, I think that it is very important to seek help and get away from that situation so that you will make your childhood better. If life gives us lemons, it is up to us to find sugar at an appropriate place and make lemonade out of our lives.
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Joshua Chow
5/9/2012 10:36:36 am
I understand your analogy when you talk about lemons. I feel the same to try to make the best out of a not-great situation. I don't believe in bad situations; there are only mediocre situations. Find the best in everything and everyone!
Grace Lu
5/1/2012 10:21:53 pm
Randy’s parents definitely had an impact on what he became as an adult. His parents seemed to not only care about him, but knew what they were doing. They always seemed to know when something was creative, and when something crossed the line. I think Randy included his parents in his Last Lecture book to thank them for what they did for him, and encourage other children to do the same. But throughout the book, Randy revolved around the theme of doing the best you can, with what you were given. People who didn’t win the “parent lottery” shouldn’t be discouraged. Though it may be a bit of a setback to be born into the “not so perfect family”, there are others out there who care for you (friends, teachers, etc) And as long as you work hard in school and whatever else you do, you will get somewhere in life. I encourage people with rough childhoods to start new, and change the future instead of trying to change the past.
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Jenna Song
5/9/2012 09:18:35 am
I agree that for those who didn't get the "parent lottery" there is still many people in the world that cares for them whether it be their friends, teachers, distant relatives, etc.
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Kyle Towe
5/2/2012 01:11:22 am
Randy’s parents were the type of parents that had his best interest at heart all the time. His mother with her strict attitude that kept him in check and didn’t allow him to get ahead of himself. His dad was essentially the word Perfect. He had served in the military, had a good job, founded a school for girls, took him to Disneyworld, and so many other things that a Dad should do. He was the perfect role model with his words of wisdom and allowing Randy’s imagination to roam free. And we all have things that we don’t really want to do but our parents force us too. Then when we get into and get involved we really start enjoying ourselves. That was it was like with Randy and football. His dad dragged to practice and slowly he started to love it and still did to his dying day. All of his experiences in childhood taught him that hard work can get you anything and anywhere. He learned that if you don’t know something then go and figure it out. They taught him modesty, to keep his cockiness in check and they taught him never to run over people just because he had the power to do so.
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Rudy Rampersad
5/6/2012 04:44:56 am
RE: Kyle - I like your post, and especially like the Coach Graham reference.
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Eric Benenson
5/2/2012 03:31:20 am
I think that when he went to Disney world and got to roam around by him, that is when he realized how great his parents were. Having the encyclopedia also helped him to answer any of the questions that he had. For people who don’t have so great parents, he advises them to pretty much live your own life and to go out and do something. To people who didn’t win the parent lottery, I would advise them to create a life of their own, and not their parents.
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Beverly Lo
5/8/2012 06:09:22 am
I agree with your last few sentences. If someone felt like they didn't have a great childhood or didn't have great parents, they should fix that for their kids, so that their kids will have a better childhood.
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Zachary Pranske
5/2/2012 03:39:25 am
The Parent Lottery is indeed that: a lottery, a draw of the hat. Randy was one of the lucky ones, I can say, because he had parents who encouraged him to fulfill his dreams. Not only that, but they helped him out in many ways. This is revealed through examples like the time he was allowed to write on his wall and express himself. However, those who didn't win the lottery can take away from this as well. You cannot change your parents, but you can change YOU. Finding your own way in the world is a sure way to succeed in life, as I'm sure Randy Pausch would agree.
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Lauren Villanueva
5/9/2012 12:37:33 pm
I completely agree with your last statements. We never know what parents we will get but we can always change who we are. Also it's true how you say that finding your own way in the world is a sure way to succeed in life.
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Janice Kao
5/2/2012 03:44:03 am
The details that greatly affected his childhood would be everything his parents did for him. They let him paint his own room, which expanded his imagination. It displayed what went around in his imagination. His parents also let him go to the NASA camp, expanding the opportunities in his life. They also let him play football and he actually learned perseverance along with head fakes. His football coach taught him teamwork, sportsmanship and more. Another important detail would be him going to Disneyland. That inspired him to become an Imagineer and he really did become one. I think there is a lesson in Randy’s story. He states that he will be absent in his children’s life, so other people who are going through the same thing aren’t the only one that suffers from this kind of incident. The advice I’d give someone who lost the “parent lottery” would be sort of like Randy’s. They should be optimistic like a Tigger, and be content with what they have. Also, the trials they go through will be experience for them and they’ll become stronger like Kelly Clarkson’s song that we hear so often in school.
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Sujay Adhikari
5/10/2012 11:57:12 am
I liked your reference to Kelly Clarkson's song. I agree that they should stay optimistic and learn from their mistakes.
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Jennifer Chavarro-Rogers
5/2/2012 03:46:42 am
To many, Randy's parents would seem strict. But he and his sister knew that their parents were always looking out for them and they wanted them to succeed in life. His parents were very supportive, such as letting him paint his bedroom walls. That taught him to be creative and use his imagination, one thing that helped him accomplish his dream of being a Disney Imagineer. There are lessons in Randy's story for people who have had less-fulfilling childhoods, such as balancing their children with discipline and encouragement. Even if some people didn't win the "parent lottery", they can still give the advice they wanted as kids to their kids. That way, their kids can win the "parent lottery" like the now adults wanted to.
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Janice Kao
5/9/2012 10:00:26 am
Yeah Randy's parents were somewhat strict, but at least they built up their kids to be strong. I love your word choice, "balancing". It really fits in with what you're trying to convey. I agree with your last 2 sentences on how kids who didn't win the lottery can give advice to their own kids. I think that kids who didn't win the lottery have somewhat different advice though. Maybe with Randy's kids, they'll be strong because they know that Randy loves them even though he's not there.
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Jenna Song
5/2/2012 10:30:29 am
Randy's parents were rigid with rules, but these rules indicates that they cared for Randy and his sister, and they wanted the best out of them. His parents encouraging to read through the Encyclopedia inspired him, and he set many childhood goals. His parents allowed him to express his feelings and thoughts by painting his bedroom. His father encouraged him to do so, and he painted all the things he desired and loved, and most importantly what set him as him. His childhood dreams inspired him to follow his dreams, and actually be successful in them. Even if Randy had achieved many of his dreams by his support of his parents, you could also hint that he was the one who overcame the "brick wall", he was the one motivated enough to achieve the dream, and he was trying every way he could to find a way in the dream. His experiences at achieving dreams is a lesson for people with less fulfilling childhoods or absentee parents. He proves that you just have to have the motivation to work hard, and inspired to really achieve that childhood goal. I would like to give the advice of "Work hard until you can see a way you can achieve your goal" to people with less fulfilling parents. Just motivate yourself to fulfill your goal, and you can still achieve it.
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John Wang
5/2/2012 11:25:10 am
Like Randy said, he "won the parent lottery". His parents were strict, kind, and fun-loving at the same time. They encouraged him to be creative, to let his imagination run free. He was given many experiences in life, from sports to science to just pure fun. I think these allowed him to become the successful virtual-reality expert he was. For those with childhoods that aren't as good as Randy's, he still offers the advice of looking up to your goals. Stick to them, and you'll get help.
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Adreesh Roy
5/8/2012 12:51:31 pm
I agree John, how he said he appreciates his parents was quite special. It really showed how lucky he feels to be born to 2 great people that had the perfect balance of discipline and free spirited-ness. I love how you used a rival to be a role model. I understand how the competition could motivate you to try and beat whoever is your nemesis.
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Vishaal Sakthivelnathan
5/2/2012 12:04:34 pm
I believe that Randy's family and their work ethics helped Randy be successful on later in life. Even though his parents were not the richest family in the world, they would do anything if it would help their children in education. Randy's mother played an amazing role in his life since she provided that push for Randy for his to continue on. If his parent would have let Randy do whatever he want and enjoy his childhood, I do not think that Randy would have achieved his later goals. His father was also an amazing man who would give anything to charity. I would agree that he was the most "Christian man" that I have heard. He encouraged Randy to let his bizarre thought that were bouncing around in his brain to be let free on the walls. He enjoyed Randy's creativity. For the people with out the parent lottery, I would tell them not to give up. Even though they did not have that push that Randy had, they can be the pillar for their building. They could provide their own support. They could even encourage their parents to change. Children learn from their parents, so if the parent see that what they do impacts their children, they would change. We have the ability to change. I believe parents should change for the sake of their dear children.
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Yuna Oh
5/2/2012 12:12:01 pm
Randy's mother was a person who had reasonable high expectations that can put Randy into work to reach the expectations and his father was a person with no greed that could give wise advices, non-biased at all. With the high goals that Randy's mom had set, he could set the goal higher and dream bigger. With the non-biased advices his father had given, Randy could see the world in the right way. However, even though you haven't won the parent lottery, you can meet other important guiders in your life like Randy met coach Graham. It can be anyone. It can be a teacher, your coach or someone who sits next to you in a class. So I think those people who thinks they didn't win the parent lottery, look around and see if there's someone who can give you a good life lesson.
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Anna Sneed
5/2/2012 11:10:32 pm
Randy's parents let him dream. When he was allowed to paint his room, he was allowed to express himself in a creative way. They also had higher standards than other parents, so he realized he could accomplish things through work. If his parents had been people who struck down every idea that he had, he would have grown up thinking nothing could be accomplished. His parents also didn't allow for him to be spoiled, he knew he had to work for things, not everything would come to him. Another benefit was that his parents had wise advice to give to him. As for advice to give to those who didn't end up with the best parents, it's important to know that you can always work hard to accomplish your dreams. You can still find the right people to support you, even if your parents don't. Don't stop dreaming just because something seems impossible.
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Raghav Kotha
5/3/2012 01:43:57 am
I think Randy's parents were very influential on his future life. One, I think his parents were very interesting people. They were a bit different from the usual parents. They often encouraged him to use a dictionary. He used a dictionary which majorly helped his vocabulary. I think his vocabulary helped make it easier to write his last lecture. Also he learned how to spend money wisely because of his parents. He sounds like a child who had a fun but strict childhood which taught him many life lessons. His parents also encouraged him to show his creativity which helped him become a good imageneer for Disney. There are a couple lessons which tell us that we should always follow our dreams and read a lot. We should always be confident even if we didn't win the parent lottery. I would tell other people who didn't win the parent lottery exactly what Randy told them. I think people who don;'t have good parents should encourage their parents to help them out more also. This is what I think.
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Taddie Cook
5/3/2012 03:32:09 am
I think that Randy’s parent frugalness added a lot to his life. He learned to save money on unimportant things and to spend extra on important items. This helped his to prioritize. Randy’s parents also taught him to search for information that he needed. Also, his parents really cared about his intrests. When they knew something was important to him, they encouraged it. This really build Randy’s confidence. I think that there are lessons from Randy’s life that people who had less fulfilling childhoods can learn about how to be a good parent to there children, or to treat others respectfully, like paying attention to others intrests. I would say to those who did not win the parent lottery to keep paying attention and show others that they are important to you.
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Hayden Kettler
5/9/2012 11:24:01 am
I agree Taddie even if people dont have the parents support to accomplish their own dreams, atleast they learn how to be a better person to others and their future kids.
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Ashleigh Little
5/3/2012 11:46:51 am
Randy's parents are what made Randy who he was when he grew up. His mother was strict and had high expectations, but for his own good. His father was a war veteran, a bussiness man, and a founder of a non-proffitt group who taught Randy many lessons which helped got older. They didn't think that you need a lot to live a good life and that rubbed off on Randy. They taught Randy to open his mind to everything, and live his dreams.
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Chandru Sundarrajan
5/3/2012 01:06:03 pm
His amazing parents were one of Pausch's main reasons of success. While being strict, they never restricted Randy of opportunities. One wonderful example in the book was when his parents let him paint his room walls. This let his creativity flow within him, and set goals that he would later achieve. If his parents had declined the offer, he would feel "like a shove from a bulldozer." However, it is not necessary to have great parents to succeed. As Pausch reiterated, you must dream big to succeed, and that can only be done by you and not your parents. My advice would be that it is important to be self-motivated and a yearning for knowledge to succeed in life.
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Catherine Jackson
5/5/2012 04:48:34 am
I think that he was really lucky in his childhood. One of the best things about his parents was that they encouraged him to follow his dreams. Although they didn't let hm do everything he wanted to do, they were generally very suppportive of him. For people whose parents discourage their dreams, I would tell them to follow their dreams no matter what. Unless, of course, their dream is to be a serial killer or something like that. But you should always be able to help your child do what they want in life.
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Swathi Sarathy
5/5/2012 12:00:49 pm
I think the fact that his mother was strict and his father encouraged a lot of creativity kind of kept everything balanced. His mother was there to discipline him and make sure that he wasn't letting his cockiness get to him. His father, on the other hand, encouraged him to pursue whatever he wanted. He wanted Randy to be creative, and he encouraged any ideas that Randy had. There are so many different pieces of advice and wisdom that people with less fulfilling childhoods can take. One of Randy's main points is to work with what you have. You can't control your past, so try to change your future. Create the future you want for yourself, not the future you may have been left with.
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Taeeun Kim
5/5/2012 01:31:49 pm
Randy’s parents were definitely the main factors that helped Randy reach the success he had later in life. Both of his parents were strict and had high expectations for him. They were frugal, wise, open-minded, giving and justly. They built him endurance and determination that later helped him pursuit and fulfill his childhood dreams. But while being strict, Randy’s parents also gave Randy chances to be creative and to think outside the box. When his dad congratulated his sister Tammy for dropping his lunch box in a puddle (event where Randy was reminded of his cockiness) and when his parents let him paint things on his wall and let him be creative were some events that led to the successes Randy had later in life.
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Sakina Daresalamwala
5/9/2012 11:13:55 am
I agree, Tae. I think that the way your parents bring you really form the person you become when you are older, personality wise. Because Randy's parents were so practical, he was raised knowing all of the basic morals of man, and that's why he was able to write such an intelligent book! The lessons that he gives throughout the book are things that parents should be teaching their kids, which I hope they do.
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Mukund Kuntimad
5/5/2012 10:45:15 pm
Nature loads a person with potential, but it is nurture that pulls the trigger and helps manifest one's potential. Randy's parents had a good head on their shoulders. They set high standards and expectations for their children and expected them to rise up to them without fuss or ado. They modeled life for them without being hypocrites. The lines of communication were always kept open, especially at the dinner table, when Randy imbibed a lot of values. His parents taught humility to Randy by not "over valuing" his doctoral degree. Even after Randy lost his father, he learned lessons of humility form him as he went through his possessions.
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Nithin Pingili
5/6/2012 01:42:22 am
I think that when Randy asked his parents if he could paint his room was what led to his successes later in his life. The question Randy asked to his parents is a matter of if they encourage him to be who he wants to be and if they believe in him. Surprisingly, his parents said yes without a question. The decision made by his parents had really helped Randy become who is his and successful in what he is in life. There are lessons from Randy’s story for less-fulfilling childhoods and absentee parents. One lesson for the less-fulfilling childhoods is that if you want something badly chase it till you grasp it. One example for absentee parents is that children aren’t going to be children forever, so believe in them and encourage them to do what they think is right. For the one’s that didn’t win “the parent lottery”, I say don’t let that stop you from your goal in life and keep dreaming on.
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Dheeraj Nuthakki
5/6/2012 01:57:47 am
Randy's parents were very influential in him becoming what he is now. Randy's parents let Randy dream big. Randy's dad took a picture of the 1969 moonwalk just in case Randy didn't get to see it. That let Randy dream big. Randy's mom was strict, but just strict enough as to where Randy can learn. Randy's parents let him paint on the wall and be creative and dream big. Randy's parents encouraged Randy and let him pursue his dreams. Randy's dad took him to Disney and was like a role model. Randy's dad was in the military so Randy took on the brave aspect of his dad. A lesson in Randy's story would be to continue trying to achieve your dreams no matter what. Advice I would give would be to keep trying to achieve your dreams and future goals. Don't let anybody stop you as long as your doing it for good. If you didn't win the parent lottery, just be sure that your parents care for you but they might not show it, you have somebody that knows you and will remember you. Some kids out there have nobody to praise them if they did something really good, they have no parents at all. They have no parents that care for them or will at least remember them if they die early. Just be thankful and go out there and try to reach your goals. Remember, the sky is the limit!
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Sydney Stevens
5/6/2012 02:50:02 am
I think there were many factors that led to the successes he had later in life. As stated, he had won “the parent lottery” meaning that he was lucky enough to get great parents that supported him. This was one of the main factors leading to his success. Also, he was pushed to be his best by his mother that held high expectations for him. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have strived to be the absolute best. Instead, he probably would have settled for just being a little above average. Another key factor that helped him achieve success was being pushed to think outside the box by his parents. As he said, they didn’t “sit around like slobs and wonder.” Instead, they would discover what they didn’t know by using resources which was very helpful in the long-run.
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5/6/2012 03:44:14 am
Randy’s parents were major constituents that contributed to his success. His mom’s high-expectations, paired with his dad’s wise lessons allowed Randy to develop into a great person. Many events in his childhood contributed to Randy’s development. For example, even though his parents were frugal, they did not hesitate to by him the large encyclopedia set he wanted. Also, his parent’s allowed him to freely draw on the walls in his room. It was events like these that allowed Randy to unleash his full potential, and reach his dreams.
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Rudy Rampersad
5/6/2012 04:41:53 am
The most predominant detail that led to Randy’s achieving of his goals was the way he was brought up by his parents. Through the old-school, rugged childhood Randy grew up in, he gained many life lessons from his parents and trusty encyclopedia. One thing that can be taken away from his stories by readers who didn’t have the type of parents Randy did is never give up and never back down to the brick walls in life. “Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” And that advice can pertain to anyone, not just those who didn’t win the parent lottery.
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Payton Molina
5/7/2012 07:07:00 am
I think that his parents helped him a lot later in his life becuase they gave him excellent advice that he kept with him for a long time. When he made all his childhood dreams, some of them had been accomplished because of something his mom or dad said. I think these lessons that he learned are for the people who have less fullfilling childhoods because when they read this book they can be inspired to actually make thier childhood dreams come true. Randy did have an amazing childhood though because he wasn't really babied from his parents he kind of learned from the advice they gave him and went on with it. They helped him in so many ways later on in his life time and helped make him who he is today. The advice I would give them is that when your parents don't help you out or tell you your dreams wont come true you shouldn't listen to them you should make them come true prove them wrong. Show them dreams can come true. Just look, Randy acheived all his childhood dreams and that made him very happy. He also helped other achevie theirs. So just go for it. Make your dream come true.
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Claire Jordan
5/7/2012 07:34:45 am
Randy's parents, like he said, were wonderful. They understood him and wanted him to achieve his goals and dreams.
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Haven Chung
5/7/2012 07:39:22 am
What advice might you give to those who didn't win "the parent lottery"?
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Claire Jordan
5/7/2012 07:43:36 am
Forget the post above. Here is my actual response:
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Giselle Peng
5/7/2012 08:02:12 am
An outsider looking at Randy's childhood would think that his parents were harsh and strict. However I agree with him when he says that his parents helped him realize his dreams. I think his parents pushing him to work hard and yet allowing him to make his own choices set him up for success later. For example, the frequent usage of the encyclopedia and dictionary taught him to go looking for the answer instead of sitting and wondering. Another example is his dad allowing him to paint his own room, encouraging his dreaming.
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Taeeun Kim
5/9/2012 10:34:04 am
I agree Giselle. Without his parents' support, Randy probably would've lived an entirely different life. His parents left a huge impact on his life. Also, I like the lesson you chose for those with absentee parents because having less-fulfilling childhoods or having absentee parents do not automatically give you a disadvantage.
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Julia Stephenson
5/7/2012 10:21:28 am
As Randy Pausch described, he was surrounded by loving parents who pushed him to be the best person that he could be. In his own words, he won the "Parent Lottery." Pausch experienced events that caused him to face the truth, and own up to his mistakes, getting help from him parents to do the right thing.They didn't believe in fitting in with the crowd or sugar-coating things when he made a mistake. When you get so caught up in society, you honestly forget who you are, and when you forget who you are, you also forget your dreams. Dreams help you develop into the exact person you were supposed to be. And without Pausch winning the 'parent lottery' i'm not quite sure he would have made such an impact on so many people.
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Madiha Rehan
5/7/2012 11:27:37 am
Randy's parents always made him reach out to his dreams. They knew he was a creative person, so they let him be creative. His mother was strict, but not to the point where she was scary strict. She was more of a caring strict, she kept things under control for Randy. While his dad let him be on more of his creative side. I think his parents had a unique way of making Randy achieve his goals.
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Lea Balcerzak
5/7/2012 11:29:59 am
Randy describes that he won the parent lottery with parents who had high standards set for him, yet provided him with the most valuable lessons in life a child can learn from their parents. I think that one of the most important lessons Randy learned as a kid was to use the dictionary at dinner. No, not the actual skill, but the concept. As he describes, from living with his parents, he learned to never just sit around doing nothing, but to always be open to new knowledge. This probably had a very significant part of his success because he understood that there is always opportunity to learn more and discover things one didn’t understand before. But the lessons showcased in this section do not just apply to those who, like Randy, had won the parent lottery. Almost each of the lessons Randy mentions in this section could be applied to the life by people with less fulfilling parents. I think a very good moral to take from this particular chapter is that just because we are in the driver’s seat doesn’t mean we need to run people over. From this, we can understand the concept of playing fair with those who hurt us, especially when one comes from an environment where everything might not be perfect and individuals might have caused them pain. Also though, Randy quotes his dad through this lesson. Those who had less-fulfilling childhood can also take from this the lesson and the hope that although it might not be their parent(s), there will be people in their life who they can quote and sound smart and reliable when doing so. Maybe the most important piece of advice that I could give those who weren’t born into a great family would be to have faith that they can still be successful in life if they work for it and trust that not every person will treat them wrongly as their parents might of.
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Aisha Espinos
5/7/2012 11:31:49 pm
The way Randy describes his parents, he might as well be the luckiest person in the world. Not only did his parents let him dream, they encouraged him to do so. His parents also kept him in check with strictness, if that makes any sense. They seemed to always keep his best interest at heart, even if it didn't always makes sense to Randy. In fact, if somebody looked in on his life as a kid, I'm pretty sure they'd use words like "harsh" or "controlling" to describe his parents. But they were only making sure that Randy had the means to strive for the best, and actually achieve it. By letting him paint seemingly random things on his wall, I think that his parents taught him an important life lesson : dream big. That's the best thing you can learn from childhood, because if you don't have that notion then, how are you going to have it later in life?
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Joy Johnson
5/8/2012 01:02:43 am
Randy had great parents. His mother was loving and caring. While his father was encouraging and understanding. His parents wanted him to do great things in the world and succeed and they wanted him to believe in him self. Because his parents were so loving, Randy achieved many things in his life. He knew that to achieve dreams he would have to work hard. Randy had won the "Parent Lottery" and he knew it. He knew he was blessed. Randy never said much about not having great parents. He never stated what to do about not having amazing parents. Randy did say that you can achieve greatness. He said that the brick wall was just there to stop others. You can do it. I would tell people that do not have great parents to find an adult. Let someone fill the spot of a mentor. Allow someone into your life that can fill the GREAT parent roll. You will find that you will be so blessed to have great parents/a great mentor. I would also say that you can achieve what ever you put your heart to. Do not think that just because you did not grow up so blessed that you can not achieve greatness. Because you can.
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Maddy G
5/8/2012 01:38:59 am
Randy won the parent lottery in that his parents care deeply about his future and what he does with his life. His parents want all of his dreams to come true.
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Beverly Lo
5/8/2012 05:52:58 am
When he was a child, Randy idolized his parents. While growing up, his parents were strict on him and always gave him advice during his hardships; they raised Randy to be a successful man. Randy believes that every child should recognize that their parents love them, even if they aren’t alive. My advice to those who didn’t win the parent lottery is to know that you parents do things that they think is the best for you. So, you may not think that your parents are being fair, but in the end you need to remember that they love you no matter what.
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Neil Bhamoo
5/8/2012 07:18:48 am
I think his parents were great. His mom was a teacher, so she really knew what was right for him. She was strict though, and so his father was more easy-going, so he kind of balanced it. His mom was a strict teacher, so Randy had some knowledge of what was expected of him. Another detail from his childhood that stood out to me as one that may have helped him reach his goals was that his family always had a dictionary or an encyclopedia to consult. His family wasn't allowed to just sit around and wonder, they had to find the answers. Because of this, he probably grew up as a very resourceful person. There are some lessons in his story for people with bad parents. Andy didn't have only parents that helped him. He found help from others, like his mentors, and even his football coach. Also, all he needed to do was ask, and he would most probably get what he needed. In the same way, if someone with bad or missing parents needs help, all they have to do is ask someone for it. It is that simple. Just remember, that even if your parents can't help you, they are most likely trying to be helpful, so don't hate them.
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Ali Ozymy
5/8/2012 07:34:36 am
Randy had great parents, and he tried to make a point that they really were a reason that he achieved his childhood dreams. His parents taught him good lessons, yet allowed him to learn some on his own. For example, when Randy's parents allowed him to roam Disney World with his sister, he ended up learning a very important lesson about asking simple questions. When Randy played football for Coach Grahm, he was taught an important lesson. The lesson was taught by his coach, not his parents, but a coach or a mentor can act as a parent sometimes. I think these different experiences caused Randy to be the successful person he grew up to be. Kids with parents that aren't quite as great as Randy's were can defiantly learn for everything Randy has to say. In the book as well as the lecture, Randy makes many references to great mentors that he has had through his life. It seems to me that mentors can act as parents, when parents aren't there for you. Also, I think Randy's real message is to dream on. Whether you had a fantastic childhood, or a terrible one. Whether you won the "parent lottery," or if you came up short. Randy's message is to have dreams and to live your life with a positive outlook and those dreams will come to you. No matter the circumstances, Randy Pausch says to dream on.
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Amy Roh
5/8/2012 07:55:46 am
Randy's parents allowed him the space to express himself in ways he wanted to, all the while keeping him in line and setting the bar very high for him. But this also got him to try harder, and achieve his goals.The morals and things he was taught were later crucial in his later life, where following your true dreams seems to be the last thing on the list, and climbing the corporate ladder seems to be the first. But with the teachings of his parents, I think it was kind of part of Pausch now, so when he went into the real world, the lessons he learned of working hard and following his dreams and use his creativity-really came in handy.
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Yacine Issioui
5/8/2012 08:13:00 am
I believe Randy was so successful because his parents gave him "slack" and let him loose to learn for himself and not say no to him all the time. I think the advice to people with less fortunate parents should be too read this book because it has a lot of information that can help them through their life with bad parents. Since it is a summary of the beliefs, of Randy a good parent, for his children, others can look at children can look to this book for thought and guidance of how to live their life. The people with less luck should try not to feel down all the time and try to be as positive as they can be.
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Morgan Glover
5/8/2012 08:48:56 am
Randy's parents really pushed him to be a good kid. They made him believe in himself so that when he failed, he would learn from his mistakes and when he succeeded, he would be satisfied with his accomplishments. Randy's stories are also useful for underprivileged kids. The end result is the same, but the situation is different. Kid's could have to push themselves to live a life like Randy's and learn the lessons he learned, but pushing themselves is worth it.
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Rahi Patel
5/8/2012 10:39:57 am
He found out what being greatful was about. I mean, nowadays when kids want something, the parents will give it to them, but back then he had parents that would save their money and still they would let Randy have a great time. he had a mother that was strict and that helped him in many ways. She would get mad at him for not doing one thing, but he knew that she still loved him. They let him dream big and they even let him paint his walls and do as he wished, I mean, my mother and father would most definately not allow me to paint on my bedroom walls! He was happy that his father was in WWII and was such a bold guy... every child loves their parents, I mean even if you have lost your parents, you know that deep down they still love you no matter what. I actually think that every child should be happy with the type of parent that they get. Every parent loves their child more than anything, and just for the record, I think that I have won “the parent lottery”, too. Even if my parents get mad, I know that they love me nonetheless.
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Joshua Chow
5/9/2012 10:34:11 am
"Every parent loves their child more than anything, and just for the record, I think that I have won “the parent lottery”, too. Even if my parents get mad, I know that they love me nonetheless." Those our my exact thoughts. We all love our parents, and we should never feel that our life would be better with any other "kind of parents".
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Pratyusha Manthena
5/8/2012 10:58:32 am
His parents’ rules of knowledge and life had a great importance in his life. They taught him to research everything that you didn’t know. I think that was really important because it made him become very scientific which led him to become a successful engineer. His mother’s great expectations pushed him to be the best, and it also made him be hard on himself. We learn later in the book that he has high expectations as well. His parents were the ones who taught him to dream. If it weren’t for his parents, he would have never come up with his dreams, and he would have never been able to achieve these dreams. I believe these lessons are for both. It allows parents to understand that letting your children get creative sometimes is okay, and it also lets people without fulfilling childhoods realize that you should embrace your childhood. Even if you missed it as a child, your parents have always loved you. My advice to people who didn’t win the “parent lottery” is to have high expectations of you and always be positive just like Randy. It was what him successful in life. I think that anyone can be successful if you work hard and really push yourself to be the best.
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Tyler Smith
5/8/2012 11:08:37 am
Randy felt he was successful because his parents were strict and hard on him to get his work done. His parents did not spend much money, so money was not an issue in his house. They made him use the dictionary almost every night to look up words that he did not know, and his Dad told great stories that he remembered and used later. His parents loved him. The lesson in Randy’s story for people without great parents is that it is your life and your goals. You need to look things up and work for the answer, and play fair and be nice to people. The advice I would give is that if you work hard then your dreams can come true.
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Adreesh Roy
5/8/2012 01:53:10 pm
Randy definitely hit the “parent lottery.” He was born to two people who pushed him to do better in everything he did without stifling his most irrational dreams. They supported all of his decisions wholeheartedly, even if they thought they weren’t the best. His mother was strict with high expectations, thus Randy learned to live up to them. His father, being a military hero was a modest man. He later started a non-profit organization and helped poor people get back on their feet. Randy’s passion for helping others was probably a trait he inherited from his old man. He was absolutely the perfect role model for him, and any child for that matter. His father passed down many words of wisdom to Randy, which eventually helped Randy to overcome his “brick walls,” or advise his students when they needed some guiding lights. Randy’s childhood could be an inspiration to those with tumultuous childhoods or absentee parents. It shows that having goals in your life or big dreams will motivate you to work hard and achieve the dream. And those with an Absentee parent need to find someone who they can look up to- coaches, teachers, and siblings, and other day-to-day people that have made the best of difficult situations that they’re placed in. These children don’t get to choose their family members, but they can definitely make the best of obstacles and opportunities thrown their way.
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Eugene Han
5/8/2012 09:05:29 pm
I think that Randy's parents were a child's dream's parents. They helped him to dream big, and encouraged him to achieve his goals. It may not be literal, but his experiences with his parents really helped him grow to achieve what he has during the 'Last Lecture'. I think there is a lesson for everyone in this. Even if one did not win the "Parent Lottery", one should not stop dreaming. Even though you haven't won, just keep dreaming. Everyone has a chance, as long as they try.
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5/9/2012 06:09:24 am
Randy really did win the "parent lottery", he's parents encouraged learning and created educational situations. They let their kids paint their room, anything they wanted, they let their imagination soar and just take the kids where they wanted. For people who didn't win the parent lottery, I would tell the kids to not give up, and always dream. Don't let bad examples keep them down, and never stop believing they can do anything.
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5/9/2012 07:09:55 am
Randy's parents disciplined him very well. His mother was very strict and she set her expectations high, which later helped him in his success. His father was very hard-working. He had such great parents to look up to. He was blessed with great parents and he knew it. He had won the "Parent Lottery". His parents beliefs were so great that he was set up for a great future. Without winning this
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Anushka Limaye
5/9/2012 07:39:38 am
Randy really did win the lottery. His parents were helpful, encouraging, and comapssionate. Their school in Thailand taught Randy to be compassionate, and their frugality taught him not to waste money. his father taught him not to believe that any job was beneath him, and these are just some of the examples. One of the lessons thhat I think everyone should walk away with is that parents aren't the only people to influence you. I feel really bad for those who did not win. Because parents don't have to be abusive to be hurtful. All they have to do is not care. I would say that, well, if our parents aren't winning numbers, then keep dreaming, and don't let their way of life stunt you. Because we all take after our parents. I suggest that we find other roll models as well. I truly feel bad, and I don't want to sound harsh, but I believe that we must keep searching for a hero that we want to be like. A roll model that shows you your future self.
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Shishir Jessu
5/9/2012 07:42:54 am
The encouragement of his parents has helped Randy, as well as their (somewhat) lax treatment of him. For example, the agreement he made with his mom about breaking the chair in the dining room was one that benefited both him and his mom, and was one that other parents would not have made. In Randy's story, anyone can see that parents are vital to one's success as an adult, and if someone has absentee parents, or no parents at all, the encouragement of a mentor is necessary in order for someone to be able to achieve their dreams and progress in life. If one did not win the "parent lottery", they should try to reform their parents, and help them see things from their own point of view. Additionally, people should find encouragement from everyone, whether they have won the "parent lottery" or not.
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Whitney Bras
5/9/2012 07:46:22 am
Randy had great parents. I feel like one reason they were so great was because he was so appreciative. They were both encouraging, and pushed him hard. I feel the many trips they took to Disney world helped Randy live out his Disney Imagineer dream. Also I feel that Randy worked to take all the advice he could get, and to give trust and appreciation. He loved his parents, and his parents loved him. Kids who feel didn't win the parent lottery should try to switch there feelings. They should see the best in there parents instead of the worst, and should show the parents what they won, there kids!
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Sanjuktha Pendyala
5/9/2012 09:41:19 am
Randy definitely had hit the "parent lottery". His parents were great. Even though his mom was strict, she pushed him to his very best. Without his parents encouragement, he wouldn't be here where he was. There are many people with parents who don't care about their children's life or future. With those kind of parents, your child will not get through what they want to be without encouragement. The way Randy traveled and got exposed to the outside world inspired him to be a lecturer, imagineer and a scientist. Randy is saying to live your dream. Just because you hit the "parent lottery" doesn't mean take advantage of it. You are fortunate to have those kind of parents. Don't EVER misuse it. But if you don't hit the "parent lottery", it's fine. You can make it through without hitting the "parent lottery".
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Lauren Villanueva
5/9/2012 09:50:33 am
I think one of the most important things from his childhood is that his parents never told him he couldn’t do something. They encouraged him in everything he did. Also a big lesson that his parents taught him that helped him with success was that if they wanted to know something they should find the answer. In Randy’s story the biggest thing he talked about that applies to people that didn’t have a fulfilling childhood or had absentee parents is that it is never too late to fulfill your dreams. Advice I would give to people who didn’t win the parent lottery is to appreciate the parents you had because there are always hidden lessons in everything they did.
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Marisa Villanueva
5/9/2012 10:22:37 am
Randy knew he had won the "parent lottery" and expressed his appreciation for that. Your parents are the people who encourage you to do the impossible no matter what. When you fall down they help you up, brush you off, and tell you to try again. Because of Randy's parents he was able to reach his goals and dreams. They gave him a good approach on the balance between reality and fantasy. He knew when setting out his goals that they had to be realistic but not at the same time. His parents were very smart in that way. Alot of Randy's success as an adult has to do with his parents, but that doesn't mean winning the "parent lottery" is essential to reaching your goalsIt's just another brick wall. Randy said that "The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something" So not having parents there for you like Randy's isn' a burden. It gives you the self confidence that you can do it anyway because you believe in yourself. And even though you may not have a parent to look up to there is always someone else in your life that could serve as a role model.
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Joshua Chow
5/9/2012 10:32:06 am
He had an encyclopedia in the dining room, and that taught him to search for answers. Don’t just ask other people. He also had a mother who always told him that his life was easy compared to others. She reminded him once when he complained about a test being so hard; she reminded him that at his age, his father was fighting the Germans. Randy’s story has lessons for everyone because he was giving a talk over a common goal of achieving your dreams. If you didn’t win the parent lottery, you shouldn’t feel bad for yourself. You still have the same chance to achieve your dreams as the person who did win the parent lottery.
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Sakina Daresalamwala
5/9/2012 10:42:13 am
I think that the way his parents raised him was a very big factor in his personality today. They wouldn’t spend too much, because they saw no need for it. This later helped Randy not only with financial issues, but with self-control with anything. If there was no need for it, there was no need for it. They also made sure to keep his attitude and cockiness in check, and they would often make him realize how truly lucky he was to be living the life he was. There are many lessons there for people who have had less-fulfilling childhoods, such as the two above. I would tell the people who haven’t won the parent lottery that just because they didn’t have the best parents doesn’t mean that they can’t dream big. I would tell them to keep their dreams big, and work hard towards them to achieve them and the morals that come with them. You can make your future whatever you want it to be. And there is a book with great morals right in front of us!
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5/9/2012 10:46:56 am
Well, I for one won the "parent lottery." I have two loving parents, that don't only love me, but love eachother. Each time I here of a divorce in somebody's life, I feel like the luckiest person in the world. I am so fortunate to have the parents I have. When reading this, book I think it applied to me just as much as it applied to someone who did not "win". I think his advice was universal for all people. If I had to tell people who weren't so lucky one thing, it would be: Good things happen to people who wait. Although this may seem dumb beacause when did I wait, but its not because if they just hang in there, good will come. It may not be in the way they expect or at the perfect time, but their life will be good.
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Nicholas Castorina
5/9/2012 11:13:51 am
I totally know what that is like. Half of the people that I know have divorced parents and seeing how dysfunctional and sad their lived are, I feel so lucky and happy to have parents who not only love me, but also love each other and are and will always be devoted to on another.
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Nicholas Castorina
5/9/2012 11:11:47 am
In his case, Randy did win the parent lottery. His mother was strict but she helped him reach his goals and push him to his fullest potential. His father was hardworking and modest. He learned traits from both parents by being strict and at the same time modest, hard-working, and helping his children and himself reach their goals in life. Most people don't get parents like him and I am glad I have good parents also. My parents are very strict at times but it is for a good reason. They love me and want me to try and put in effort to my fullest potential and to keep supporting me all the way till my goals are completed. For the people without supporting or caring parent, all I can say is to never let your parents stand in the way of your goals in life. Even if they don't support you and comfort you along the way, keep trying and keep pushing and eventually, you will reach your goals and all of your hard work and effort will pay off.
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Lauren Rudd
5/9/2012 11:17:58 am
I think Randy was so succesful becasue his parents pushed hime to always do his best. They never gave up on him. One of the things that led to his success was probably his football coach, Jim Graham. He pushed Randy really hard in practice and Randy said that it stuck with him. All the mini-stories he incorporated into the story probably helped as well. He really did have good parents, but all kids aren't as lucky. My advice to them would be to never give up on yourself and always try your best.
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christian spiller
5/9/2012 11:37:45 am
Randy had wonderful parents that helped him realize many of his dreams.I think Randy was so succesful becasue his parents pushed hime to always do his best.I have two loving parents, that don't only love me, but love eachother. I think that if you dont have good parents you are at a disadvantage but its not imposible to become succsesful
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Alex Berend
5/9/2012 11:39:35 am
When he says he won the parent lottery, he means he was gifted with parents who influenced him to follow his dreams and desires, and that his parents kept enough restriction to keep him from the wrongs in life, but enough leanience to let out his own hopes and dreams. His parents let him paint his fantasies and goals and dreams on his bedroom wall. After this, he tells people that if there kids ever want to paint their wall, then to let them, as a favor to him and your child. If you dont hit the parent lottery, still respect and honor your parents and obey what they they, but try to find someone as a mentor, to where they will help guide you to your dreams and express yourself, whether it be a teacher, counselor, leader, or really anybody who you see as an inspiration for reaching your highest goals.
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Avery Pietrowiak
5/9/2012 12:39:42 pm
Randy was very lucky to have the parents he had. His mother was strict to a point of teaching where he stood, but was very caring at the same time. His dad was adventurous and kind with a hard stand on how to work hard. I think that his parents were the reason that he had a jump start in achieving his dreams. If you feel that you may have not won the parent lottery as big as Randy did, just know that you can still achieve your dreams you will just have to get yourself started and work hard.
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Caden Fernando
5/9/2012 12:57:02 pm
Randy's parents understood him and enabled his childhood dreams, just like he would later in his life. His mother, hardworking and determined, pushed him to exhale in school, his father, honest and trustworthy, taught him the skills he would need to be a good, honest man. I believe the best example of his parents enabling him was allowing him to paint on his walls. This helped him discover his passions and hobbies, it was a way of letting his dreams out into the real world. This helped shape him into the man he became to be. Randy said that those who didn't win the "parent lottery" should keep dreaming and trying to achieve their goals. They should never give up and just imagine themselves in the position they dream of. If I were to give advice to those children I would say, "Don't let your parents hold you back from achieving your dreams. Do well in school, plan, and put those plans into action, parent or not, there is no one who decides your future, only you.
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Miika Jarvela
5/9/2012 01:13:49 pm
I think the main things that led to his successes in his life were the fact that his parents taught him with good values and morals. He was always encouraged to be creative, to do the right thing, and to do anything else that would set him from everybody else as a good person. They (his parents) fortified education and smartness as a value for their children. They worked as a family to support values that were good for success. I think that it’s okay if you don’t have the best parents in the world. You are stuck with them, though. You can’t change your parents. You can only change your relationship with them and how you accept what they offer you. You don’t have to have the best parents in the world to appreciate them. As Randy said, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” So you cannot change your parents; you can only change with how you cope with them and interact with them.
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Selase Buatsi
5/9/2012 01:54:56 pm
Randy states in his ‘Last Lecture’ that he won the parent lottery. By saying this, he is saying that he was lucky to have great parents that were wonderful role models. His parents helped him to realize his dreams and attain them. His father was a hard working man. He made a non-profit organization, ran a business that served to help the less fortunate, and fought in the military. Randy’s mother was strict but loving. She wanted her son to feel loved, but she also wanted him to have good morals. Both of his parents encouraged him to be creative, which I believe had the greatest impact on his success. His parents encouraged him to be creative, and they did all they could to make sure that he felt that he knew that he could always do what he wanted, as long as it wouldn’t harm him. For example, when Randy was little he asked his parents to let him paint his room. His dad was all for it, and even though his mom was a little reluctant she also gave her approval. Overall Randy’s parents were loving, and help to distinguish his goals and morals.
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Michelle Zhang
5/10/2012 09:02:02 am
I think that the way his parents taught him to always ask questions really benfitted him later in his life. Also, the brick wall example he had probably helped him, too. That lesson told him that he needed to preserve to get things because not everyone would do the same and that was what set them apart. There are lessons that would help others without as great of parents, like the lesson to manage money. I think that would really help kids with absentee parents because they would start to understand the principle of life and how everyone's different in all the aspects. The advice I would give to kids without great parents is to not let that affect what you do in life.
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Belle Tan
5/10/2012 10:57:14 am
His amazing parents play a huge role in Randy's successful childhood dreams. An example is them letting Randy paint his room, it allowed him to paint his goals and let his creativity flow. Even it is good to hit the" parent jackpot", we don't have much choice. Still we need to dream big andd start small.
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Isabelle Garza
5/10/2012 11:20:26 am
Randy's parents played a huge role in his success. Your childhood is where everything begins and Randy had a great beginning. His parents being hardworking, caring, and strict helped Randy become what he was. If it hadnt been for the things he learned from his parents he probably wouldnt have accomplished the things he did. He had amazing traits that came from having a childhood like he had. Even if you dont have parents like Randy had it doesnt mean that you cant accomplish your dreams. It does mean you will have to work hard find someone that you can learn from and that can help you create the traits and character you will need to carry you through life.
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Myles Paschall
5/10/2012 12:24:33 pm
Randys parents played a huge roll in his life. His parents always aloud him to use his imagination and create things that only he would understand. I think that they knew that it would become a big part in randys life.His parents were hard on him and always wanted him to do his best and i think that it became a habit to Randy to always try one hundred percent. I think that Randy would want to tell the people who didnt win the "parent lottory" that you should always push yourself and be the best you can be. I think that he would let them know to always use their imagination to help fulfill their dreams.
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Vishnu Kunadharaju
5/10/2012 12:55:39 pm
I think Randy had a great childhood. What I think what led Randy to his success was basically how his parents had raised him and the life lessons they had taught him. He had strict mother and caring father. But what I thought was that they biggest thing about his success was that his parents encouraging to dream big. They also taught him to give his hundred percent no matter what. The advise I would give to them would be go ahead and dream and after you found what dreamed then go and chase after those dreams and achieve them.
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Katy Hensel
5/10/2012 01:34:33 pm
Your childhood defines who you are for the rest of your life, and Randy's excellent childhood was a blessing for him. His parents taught him many things that helped him greatly later in life. First off, they taught him that education is everything, which is true. They were an encyclopedia family, which made them know how to look for answers. His parents let him express his creativity by allowing him to paint his bedroom. Letting him do that really helped him find himself and know who he was. They let him follow his passions too, as they never had as high of an education as him, and they worked for their money instead. They kept him humble throughout his life, and they were fantastic parents. The lessons in the last lecture for kids that maybe don't have the parents Randy had are that you can be anyone you want to be, and make sure that when you become a parent you let your kid dream.
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Jariah De La Garza
5/12/2012 09:35:52 am
the parents that randy had are parents that have high expectations and are easy to look up to.They helped the less fortunate and helped randy by supporting him. By having parents that are willing to put their own lives aside to help others is a great push to being successful .because they put others on top of their own troubles makes them great role models for randy helping him reach his goals.When he talks about the parent lottery he is telling the people who didn't "win" that just because you have a certain kind of parent doesn't mean you can't be successful in reaching your goals.
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Haris Rafiq
5/13/2012 10:49:02 am
Randy had two really great parents. He had a firm mom and a supportive dad. That's a great combination to have. I won the mom lottery, definitely. She never hit me. Never. But I still behaved as a kid. She had the right qualities a parent should have.
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10/5/2012 03:20:51 pm
kudos! A trustworthy blog, thanks for putting an effort to publish this information. very informative and does exactly what it sets out to do. thumbs up! :)
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